Solve the problem and answer the question.
-One pump can drain a pool in 10 minutes. When a second pump is also used, the pool only takes 5 minutes to drain. How long would it take the second pump to drain the pool if it were the only pump in use?
A) 45 min
B) 10 min

Question

Solve the problem and answer the question.
-One pump can drain a pool in 10 minutes. When a second pump is also used, the pool only takes 5 minutes to drain. How long would it take the second pump to drain the pool if it were the only pump in use?
A) 45 min 
B) 10 min

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let x be the time it takes the second pump to drain the pool alone. Then, the first pump can drain 1/10 of the pool in 1 minute, and the second pump can drain 1/x of the pool in 1 minute. Together, they can drain the pool in 5 minutes, so they can drain 1/5 of the pool in 1 minute. This gives us the equation:

1/10 + 1/x = 1/5

Multiplying both sides by 10x, we get:

x + 10 = 2x

Simplifying, we get x = 10. Therefore, the second pump can drain the pool alone in 10 minutes.

Solve the Problem and Answer the Question